June 01, 2010

There has been a lot of change going on in my life over the last couple of weeks...and more on the way. "Change is inevitable. Change is constant". Some of it driven from myself and some that is much further upstream but I am embracing it as much as I can to influence the drift.

The last few weeks Monique and I have been out on trails and enjoying finding some new routes right in our own backyard. The glow of summer is here but the heat has not slipped in yet so the green is lingering around. Makes me want to go camping! Monique usually sends me morning sunshine emails with scripture and a note. She is so rad! I got this one last week and it stuck in my mind and my heart. “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”- Acts 20:24

In our planning for change, we did manage to finish an outline for races this year and some trips we are keen on but that is for another post...and on hold for now. Sarah has also developed a real website for me and it is creative and amazing... I am the bottle neck in the launch! Delayed change to make sure all is going in the same direction.... I started this blog for a an opportunity to record some timeless moments on the trail that made me remember why I love life and all around me. Recording my training and race reports that would serve as learning lessons inside and outside of sport. I never intended to maintain a site that glorified ME. I hope that with this change and a new website I can have a broader platform for a more worthy cause.

No real structured training plan for me over the last few weeks(no change there!). After a quick recovery from IMSG, I began to wonder what would make me tired and started to search out my relative "hard" effort level but not with a race...in training. I had capped most of my efforts at steady for the last few months and the fast is fun bug got a hold of me and I found myself in an intensity war...with myself. I won. Yeah! After smashing myself and then talking with Gordo and realizing that I am on the guys-just-want-to-have-fun plan to Kona this year I let the intensity fly over the last couple of weeks. That was fun. My only problem of it all was that I didn't let up for about 10 days in a row...but that is where the learning comes in..."if you're going to be stupid then you'd better be tough". I got out injury free and have a better idea of where my hard baseline is so I will clock that up under some wisdom gained from the experience.

I also stared working more with Doreen who nearly pulled me apart before she massaged me back together on Friday. wow...I am looking forward to working more with her and I know the sessions are paying off. Her Yoga for Athletes focus is just what the doctor ordered. The mental thoughts themselves about alignment, posture and such throughout the day are a welcomed transition into keeping centered.

I spent this weekend with some old friends and much of whom I would consider my family. Time at the ranch to rest and enjoy the company and conversation of good people. Our needs are truthfully very simple.

The last time that Monique and I were out there the trees were not so tall and the flowers did not look as pretty. The food...I do remember that still being really really good!

We are off this week to Arizona for a few races that we signed up for last week. Monique is racing an Xterra off-road triathlon on Sunday and I am jumping into a Half Ironman on Saturday. Should be fun time extending the intensity war with myself!